Scarborough borough hackney carriage taxi fare increases approved
It has been four years since the last price rise for taxi drivers in the borough
There is going to be an increase in taxi fares for hackney carriages in the Borough of Scarborough from next month.
It is the first time in four years, after the request was made by Scarborough and District Taxi Association.
Scarborough Borough Councillors at the Licensing Committee unanimously agreed to the proposals today.
The Taxi Association proposed a 17 per cent fare increase for a two-mile journey between 6am and 9pm, raising the cost of such a journey to ÂŁ7.72 from ÂŁ6.60.
The plans also sees a 22 per cent increase for journeys between 9 pm and midnight, raising the cost of a two-mile journey to ÂŁ8.32 from ÂŁ6.80.
The biggest increase is for fares between midnight and 6 am, which would be increased by 33 per cent to ÂŁ9.35 from the current ÂŁ7.20 for a two-mile journey.
Chris Brooks has been a taxi driver in Scarborough for nearly 20 years. He is the Chairman of Station Taxis and said: "We haven't had an increase since 2018. The one before that was in 2013, so nearly 10 years we've had one price increase and because it was such a large increase in 2018 we didn't apply for one in 2019 and then we had a pandemic. We didn't apply for one in 2020, 2021 or 2022 until the fuel increase happened.
"We've actually been given more than we've asked for because of the amalgamation of the councils next April, it's been quite difficult for our licensing manager because he's also got to look forward to that and he's also tried to bring us in line with Selby and Harrogate who are currently quite a bit more expensive than Scarborough.
"Currently we are ÂŁ1.40 a mile and the fare increase is going to ÂŁ2 a mile, which equates to about 20 percent. The reason why we think that's reasonable is that minimum wage has gone up well over 20 per cent in the last four years and the fuel price has gone up 35 per cent in the last four years. It's probably going to make a difference of a pound around town.
"Everybody I've spoken to say they understand; the cost of living, the fuel prices and everything, we have to have a pay rise. I'm happy with the pay rise. I've probably been spending ÂŁ70 a week more on fuel than I did six months ago, but once again for me, it's a first world problem. It's happened because other people are suffering far more than that."
There will now be a two-week consultation period following the decision during which members of the public can make their thoughts known.
Council director Paul Thompson writes in his report that since 2018, costs have significantly increased for taxi operators: “During that time global energy prices have risen sharply, and in the 12 months up to July 2022 petrol and oil prices in the UK have increased by 46.8 per cent.”
Some aspects of the Taxi Association’s request, such as a booking fee increase, were removed with a new alternative mileage calculation included “to be fairer to those members of the public who may need to book from a distance away from the town centres.”
Additionally, “charges for carrying items necessary to support disabled travellers have been removed as such charges are now illegal”.
The new fares will be in effect until at least April 2023 when the new North Yorkshire Council replaces borough and county councils and will become responsible for setting fares for the whole of the county.
In June, an increase in taxi fares in East Riding was also approved for the first time in eight years.